allen is a professor after administration at new york university's graduate school of public service where he teaches negotiation, conflict resolution and public involvement. thank you for being here. >> my pleasure. give us your assessment of the negotiations between john boehner, the republicans and president obama. >> it's hard to know what's happening at the table. my speculation is, at some point, the president said to the speaker, so i have made some compromises already. i put things on the table. what do you have to put on the table? that may have been what triggered boehner having to go back to the house to get something passed because he couldn't speak for his members. >> he doesn't speak for his members. given that, did it make sense for the president to put something on the table that seemed to be a departure. he said $250,000 and up. he comes to boehner with no hand. no numbers that match in his hand. did it make sense for the president to go to $400,000? >> the senate saying $500,000. >> i was concerned about that. richard spoke he was concerned the president was putting